EX. "Priory 2/87" BINBROOK 13-15th Oct 1987

[3Greens]

With only a few weeks before final stand down and retirement with the Lightning this was No. 5 (F) Squadrons' last real operational outing.
This was to be a real 'Draken Fest'. Exercise visitors arriving on 13th were a mixture of Danish attack and recce Drakens from Esk725 and Esk729 squadrons. Interestingly the attack models (A.35XD) all now featured the same 'chisel ' nose as their recce counterparts (S.35XD) presumably for a laser range finder system (as per Jaguar).
The two seater (Sk.35XD) AT-158 arrived during 14th with spares for A-002 which had gone u/s on the 13th.
Lunch stoppers were F-4F Phantoms from JbG-36 Hopsten who were tasked on attacks at other RAF stations.
Shame these exercises are now so long gone.





















































Hope you enjoyed these

[Cobra1]

Brilliant

[thebigtwix]

Great shots! Recently stayed nearby and it was almost impossible to spot where the base used to be......

[haveblue]

Lightnings, Phantoms and Drakens - what's not to like. Had a couple of visits to that same fence spot in 1987, great light in the morning, with the red-tail lightning also appearing when I was there. Was never able to combine a visit with one of the major air defence exercises unfortunately. Thanks for posting.

[dennis273]

Nice shots - like the red tail especially.

Drakens were pretty cool too.

Dennis

[Mustang531]

Thanks for sharing these, some classic types, all sadly missed.

[CLPSLFBT]

Hi Keith, yet again absolutely fantastic work, .
I can certainly remember this one especially the Phantoms being visible for miles thanks to the smoke trails . The Draken shots are awesome mate and they still look kinda futuristic when seen in the air.
Cracking stuff Keith, thanks again.

Regards Glenn

[Precinct7]

Great set of pictures ,was there Wednesday October 14th also got a LN Swinger 73-0715/LN y
our route that day
Alconbury,*BT F-15 ) Wyton (Italian PD-808's) ,Wittering Dutch NF-5,s BT F-15's) , Cottesmore, Barkson Heath Cranwell,
Coningsby ( 11 x German Alpha's), Waddington ( 20 x German Alpha's) Binbrook , Scampton
& back to Waddington , a 60 sq Andover arrived with support for RAFG Tornado's due that evening, but we did not wait & headed home 200 miles south , a lot of miles, a lot of aircraft now all gone, like a lot of the airfields Great times

[F3]

Terrific set Keith. I was there too that day (albeit at t'other end) and well remember the excitement the F-4Fs caused when they dropped in for lunch. Lunchtime was always eagerly anticipated to see if anything would drop in. This was the 2nd best Ex I attended @ Binbrook. The best by miles was Elder Forest '84 as the Coningsby Phantoms were there and both Dutch and German F-104s dropped in. Also several raids contributed to the excitement. Missed these when it closed. Went to Leeming instead but was never as good.

[paddyboy]

Hi Keith



That pseudo-Firebird Frightning looks awesome

Belting set all-round

Thanks for posting

Paddyboy

[Pauld339]

If they ever get virtual reality working properly I'm going to spend my life experiencing old exercises like this. Fabulous! I only went to Binbrook once and I was about 7 so have only vague memories of these old girls.

[3Greens]

Hi Keith, yet again absolutely fantastic work, .
I can certainly remember this one especially the Phantoms being visible for miles thanks to the smoke trails . The Draken shots are awesome mate and they still look kinda futuristic when seen in the air.
Cracking stuff Keith, thanks again.

Regards Glenn

Many thanks Glenn, pleased that they brought back such good memories
Keith (3Greens)

[3Greens]

Terrific set Keith. I was there too that day (albeit at t'other end) and well remember the excitement the F-4Fs caused when they dropped in for lunch. Lunchtime was always eagerly anticipated to see if anything would drop in. This was the 2nd best Ex I attended @ Binbrook. The best by miles was Elder Forest '84 as the Coningsby Phantoms were there and both Dutch and German F-104s dropped in. Also several raids contributed to the excitement. Missed these when it closed. Went to Leeming instead but was never as good.

Hi Michael,
Indeed the Elder Forest'84 was very memorable. I was over at Waddington and as I stood on the approach panning around to photograph the Danish F-16's witnessed that 'bang-bang' as the crew of Phantom XT891:Z banged out on finals. The aircraft suffered a nosewheel hydraulic/steering problem but pilotless made a reasonable landing. It was repaired after not too long and was back flying.
The remaining Phantoms that day diverted across to Binbrook.
These exercises were extremely busy with visiting aircraft from Europe
Cheers
Keith (3Greens)

[3Greens]

Great set of pictures ,was there Wednesday October 14th also got a LN Swinger 73-0715/LN y
our route that day
Alconbury,*BT F-15 ) Wyton (Italian PD-808's) ,Wittering Dutch NF-5,s BT F-15's) , Cottesmore, Barkson Heath Cranwell,
Coningsby ( 11 x German Alpha's), Waddington ( 20 x German Alpha's) Binbrook , Scampton
& back to Waddington , a 60 sq Andover arrived with support for RAFG Tornado's due that evening, but we did not wait & headed home 200 miles south , a lot of miles, a lot of aircraft now all gone, like a lot of the airfields Great times

Thanks to all for the comments on this memorable exercise
and thanks Precinct7, these exercises were definately 'full on'. I did manage to see some of the Waddington Alpha's but you certainly had a great day on your tour.
Thanks again
Keith (3Greens)

[Precinct7]

thanks Keith. German Alpha,s used to arrive all over the place including Cranwell
saw 20 in Waddington on more than one occasion
I recall going to Holbeach range one excerise we had German Alphas Dutch F16 s and more on the range and as a bonus we could see German Alphas from Leeming and Finningley working Wainfleet on the other side of the Wash

was great fun charging around the countryside following rumours of what was going were!!

[Blue Diamond]

Happy days. Thanks for sharing.

[Blue Diamond]

thanks Keith. German Alpha,s used to arrive all over the place including Cranwell
saw 20 in Waddington on more than one occasion
I recall going to Holbeach range one excerise we had German Alphas Dutch F16 s and more on the range and as a bonus we could see German Alphas from Leeming and Finningley working Wainfleet on the other side of the Wash

was great fun charging around the countryside following rumours of what was going were!!

Wasn't it just.

[Keflavik69]

What a fantastic set of images you posted here. Thanks a lot for sharing these pictures. For some reason, now much regretted, I never managed to go to Binbrook. Superb photo opportunities combined with an interesting exercise must have been heaven.
Arnold

[Punkrunner62]

Great quality scans and quality subject matter, saw many Danish Drakens at Lossiemouth in the old days.
Cheers.